Dear brethren,

God richly blessed  my 43^rd preaching trip to the Philippines July 22-August 19.  By His providence Jim McDonald introduced me to this work.  Filipino brethren exiting premillennialism reminds me of Acts 18 when Apollos learned more perfectly “the way of the Lord.”  An Australian lady has hung onto her faith meeting in her home for eight years.  I was privileged to teach 58 times and see 55 respond to the gospel.

The first Sunday I joined Atoy Franco, Lucio Centeno, and Kenneth, Willie, and Kathy Pastor in the prison in Muntinlupa, Metro Manila. Willie is there by a miscarriage of justice, but like Joseph he serves God trusting His providence. In the past year he has seen over 100 souls obey the gospel.  At services in two units of the prison I studied Genesis 1:1-2:3, “God Created Everything,” building the prisoners faith in God while showing them the value of their souls.

On July 25 I flew to Davao City, Mindanao and was joined by Jonathan Carino from Cebu City and Jack Jaco from Negros Island.  Tuesday 100 souls gathered at Padada, Davao del Sur where Julie Notarte arrived early and started teaching.  I spoke on “The Creation of All Things,” and then Julie’s son Joseph summarized the lesson in the local dialect. After lunch the sermons focused on “What Jesus Taught About Hell” (summarized by Joseph) and “How Beautiful Heaven Must Be” (translated by Julie). Brethren brought visitors from far and wide  and six were baptized from other areas.  Mechelle Canada and his mother Alice worked hard behind the scenes preparing for this meeting.

The next day we met at the Wangan church of Christ in Calinan (part of Davao City) where Gerry Caa labors. The little church building overflowed with 144 souls. In the morning I presented a two part lesson entitled “The First Gospel Sermon” (Acts 2).  Afternoon sermons were designed to edify the saints: “Lord, Increase Our Faith” (Lk. 17:5) and “The Greatest Sorrow and the Greatest Joy” (Ps. 32).

Thursday 66 brethren attended the New Matina church of Christ in Davao City where Juanito Balbin  preaches.  C.B. Balbin summarized my lessons on “Thy Kingdom Come” (Matt. 6:13) and on Matthew 24 for preachers from remote areas.  Two lessons on “The A.D. 70 Doctrine,” which has infiltrated the Philippines, were summarized by Joseph Cunado. Juanito (recent stroke victim) translated the open forum.

July 29 I flew to Cebu City to catch a flight to Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental for ten days of work with Cipriano Carpentero, Jr.  Saturday was spent preaching at Barangay Pagatpat where Cipriano and Edgar Samodal have been teaching a group formerly with the Christian Church.  Edgar preached before our arrival, then I taught the lesson “When Peter Confessed Christ (Matt. 16:13-19).”  After emphasizing the confession, “Thou are the Christ, the Son of the living God,” the study shows that Peter was not crowned Pope but that Jesus established his own church in Acts 2 without the trappings of Catholicism or denominationalism. Edgar gave a summary in the local dialect.  Jonathan Carino summarized my lesson entitled “The Gospel Makes Us Right with God (Rom. 1:16-17).”  With a crowd of 150, it was amazing to see how disciplined the small children were, sitting for hours on simple benches without backs.  At the invitation, 26 precious souls came forward to submit to Christ in baptism including a lady 90 years old!  Cipriano and Edgar will continue to follow up in this village.

We joined the Sunday AM worship at the Camaman-an church of Christ in Cagayan de Oro City where Cirpriano labors. About 70 attended and the lessons were “Lord, Increase Our Faith (Lk. 17:5)” and “Christ Scorned and Believed (1 Cor. 1:18).” After lunch we drove again to Barangay Pagatpat and crossed a bridge to the San Simon community where the new church meets in the home of Myrna Yanez. The audience overflowed at her back door. And, yes, the 90 year old convert was there on the front row!

August 1-5 Lordy Salunga from Tarlac City, Tarlac on Luzon joined Jonathan and me to teach classes for  preachers at the Camaman-an church hosted by Cipriano.  For 30 years Cyrus Gesulga has been very influential among premillennial churches of Christ, but he and I have corresponded since he attended the December 2010 meeting in Cagayan de Oro.  By his kind invitation I spoke in April at the 29th annual lectureship conducted by premillennial brethren. In turn I invited him to register 30 men for this class, and another 30 joined us as sit-in students. Jonathan, Lordy, and I covered Robert Harkrider’s four volume Basic Bible Doctrine. The actual books along with reference Bibles, concordances, and Bible dictionaries were delayed by customs officials in Manila but finally arrived late Tuesday.

In spite of limited mobility caused by a stroke, Cyrus sat at the front as one of the most attentive listeners.

Preparing four lessons on premillennialism for Friday, I slept only two hours Thursday night.  I expected a flood of questions and objections, but instead the men reflected in silence on what they had heard.  Cyrus stood and explained how he learned premillennialism from U.S. brethren. He now realizes Matthew 24 gives signs of the coming fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, not “end times” signs.  Also, Revelation 20 refers to the victory of Christ and the saints over the Roman Empire, not a literal 1,000 year reign of Christ on earth. He wept as he expressed regret over the damage caused to the work of the Lord and to the unity of the saints by his past course, and he promised to do all he can to restore the unity of God’s people.  Many of us wept with him.  We prayed for his forgiveness.  The presence of Juanito Balbin, with whom he debated years ago, and Jun Apatan, a longtime friend, greatly encouraged Cyrus to take his stand.

Cyrus then appealed to men present from denominations to obey the gospel. One immediately stood and said, “We are like the eunuch in Acts 8.  We already believe Jesus is the Son of God. What we need is to go to the water and submit to Christ in baptism like the eunuch.” Eight stood and said they were ready. Nine Primitive Baptists, Pentecostal, and Evangelical preachers were baptized into Christ!

August 6 was given to a meeting at the church in Alita Village, Tominobo, Iligan City where Pat Peregrino preaches. The church overflowed with 150 people including Catholics and 7th Day Adventists. Edgar Samodal started preaching early and I followed him when we arrived.  After lunch I continued teaching, and when Jonathan Carino exhorted the audience and extended the invitation, 14 people from age 10 to about 70 came to be baptized. This was a hot, humid exhausting day but also a wonderful day!

Sunday we visited a Primitive Baptist Church at Talakag, Bukidnon where one of the ne wly baptized preachers had been preaching, and returned to the 11:00 AM service at the Capisnon church where Cyrus preaches and is one of the elders. I preached at the provincial jail after lunch.  Monday was spent in profitable study and discussion with Cyrus and Rolando Jumao-as, his brother-in-law.

On Wednesday I flew from Cagayan de Oro City to Manila and onto Melbourne, Australia, to Brisbane, and finally to Gladstone, Queensland. August 10-16 was spent teaching classes which covered Cecil Willis’ workbook on How to Study the Bible, followed by a summary and hands-on lessons teaching outlining of Scripture and textual preaching, for a total of 16 lessons.  Jamie and Deborah (Halbrook) Williams moved to Gladstone about six weeks ago. They located Carol Zussino who has met in her home for eight years with her teenage daughter! Just recently a Filipino lady with four children found this group. Jamie has all the teaching responsibilities. They plan to rent a meeting place and advertise their presence as the church of Christ.  This is a new challenge for Jamie, but God puts the right people at the right place at the right time to accomplish His purpose.

God blessed me with a safe trip back to “home, sweet home.”  I have missed Donna and all our dear brethren at the Hebron Lane church. I thank God  for the saints who make these preaching trips possible!

In Christian love,

Ron Halbrook